Campus briefs

Engh delivers State of the University address

During yesterday's State of the University address, University President Michael Engh, S.J., made it abundantly clear he would meet and exceed the recommendations of WASC.

The Western Association of Schools and Colleges evaluated the university last year and reported back on its findings. According to Engh, WASC officers were impressed with the quality of education at the university and its financial stability. They did, however, make six recommendations on ways to improve.

Among these recommendations, WASC asked the university to review its policy of a decentralized value of diversity and inclusive excellence, reevaluate its assessment program and reassess its status of lecturers. Engh stated that several committees have been formed to meet these demands.

"We will not rest on our well-earned morals," he said.

Engh also noted the near possibility of completing the last building on the campus master plan -- a combined building for Enrollment Management, Admissions, Financial Aid, Bursar's Office and the Office of the Registrar.

This building will become all the more important with the increased number of applications received this year. Engh stated there was a 15 percent increase in the number of submitted applications for next year's incoming class, adding that schools like Boston College have only seen a six to seven percent increase.

"Our early applications were up 20 percent," he said.

Mar. 19 has been set as the date to send admission decisions out to the over 8,000 regular decision applications.

The university's endowment is also making a recovery, the university president said.

"Here's a little bit of a history lesson here," he said. "In 2007, the endowment came out to about $700 million. When I arrived it was down to $533 million. And now as of this week, Tuesday, the approximate value was $588 million. So it is going in the right direction."

Additionally, Engh spoke about a 3.8 percent increase in tuition, a 2 percent salary increase for faculty and staff, renovations to Swig Hall and Engh commended the $1.9 million raised for a special assistance fund to aid 190 students in remaining in school despite financial difficulties.

Student Body President Sean Brachvogel, who spoke before Engh, showcased student participation in events like the EMS fundraiser for Haiti, SCCAP'S Rainbow Prom and MCC's Awareness Week and panel activities.

He also noted student involvement in launching the Zip Car program and in an off-campus sustainability competition that is scheduled to start soon. "The student body has been particularly active this year," Brachvogel said.

He said final touches on a medical amnesty proposal were finished Tuesday, with the hopes that it will be implemented next fall.

Both Brachvogel and Engh noted a lag in alumni financial participation as of late. Brachvogel said there's been a 12 percent decrease in the quantity of donations in the last ten years.

From staff reports. E-mail news@thesantaclara.com.